THEMATIC REPORT 2017 SEXUAL TORTURE Populations living through conflict During conflict, sexual torture may be used as a weapon to terrorise societies. Methods used include rape, sexual slavery or castration, perpetrated on a large scale. Since sexual and gender-based violence lead to a deep disturbance of the functioning of families, if applied in a systematic manner it can disrupt the entire social fabric of broad geographical regions or even countries. Dario CTV Bosnia and Herzegovina CTV Bosnia and Herzegovina treats many victims of torture from the Yugoslav Wars that took place between 1992 and 1995. The atrocities experienced by victims have led to enduring trauma, as exemplified by the story of Dario who was deported by the Serbian army in 1992 and spent 13 months in various concentration camps. During his imprisonment he was physically, psychologically, sexually tortured on a daily basis. He and other detainees were forced to take off their clothes after which they were beaten and sexually abused. The sexual abuse took many forms, including rape, the insertion of different kinds of sticks and other inanimate objects into the anus, and being forced to rape one another. This last behaviour encompassed additional humiliation in that most of the victims knew each other from their hometowns. After the war, Dario returned to his family house. The town however, is now part of the Republika Srpska, and as such the majority of its inhabitants are Serbs. As a result, Dario, a member of the local Bosniak minority, is surrounded by the ethnic group of his torturers. “In his town, he regularly sees people who harmed him and other relatives, friends and acquaintances walking around freely. They have not been brought to justice. Dario, is re-traumatised every day when he meets them,” his counsellor notes. Dario received support from CTV. The centre provided him with treatment by a general practitioner, as well as free medication. As Dario was also diagnosed with severe PTSD, he participated in individual and group therapy led by CTV’s psychiatrists. He now tries to lead a normal life with his wife and children. page 12